Beginning

Babylon the Great Prostitute Sits on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came to me. He said, “Come. I will show you how the great prostitute will be punished. She is the one who sits by many waters. ² The kings of the earth took part in her evil ways. The people living on earth were drunk with the wine of her terrible sins.”

³ Then in a vision the angel carried me away to a desert. There the Holy Spirit showed me a woman sitting on a bright red beast. It was covered with names that say evil things about God. It had seven heads and ten horns. ⁴ The woman was dressed in purple and bright red. She was gleaming with gold, jewels and pearls. In her hand she held a golden cup filled with things that God hates. It was filled with her terrible, dirty sins. ⁵ The name written on her forehead was a mystery. Here is what it said.

The Great City of Babylon

The Mother of Prostitutes

The Mother of Everything on Earth that God Hates

⁶ I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people. They are the ones who are witnesses about Jesus.

When I saw her, I was very amazed. ⁷ Then the angel said to me, “Why are you amazed? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman. And I will explain the mystery of the beast she rides on. The beast is the one who has the seven heads and ten horns. ⁸ The beast that you saw used to exist and now does not. Yet it will come up out of the Abyss and be destroyed. Some people on the earth will be amazed when they see the beast. Their names have not been written in the book of life from the time the world was created. They will be amazed at the beast. That’s because it will come again even though it used to exist and now does not.

⁹ “Here is a problem that you have to be wise to understand. The seven heads are seven hills that the woman sits on. ¹⁰ They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is ruling, and the other has still not come. When he does come, he must remain for only a little while. ¹¹ The beast who used to exist, and now does not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the other seven. He will be destroyed.

¹² “The ten horns you saw are ten kings. They have not yet received a kingdom. But for one hour they will receive authority to rule together with the beast. ¹³ They have only one purpose. So they will give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴ They will make war against the Lamb. But the Lamb will have victory over them. That’s because he is the most powerful Lord of all and the greatest King of all. His appointed, chosen and faithful followers will be with him.”

¹⁵ Then the angel spoke to me. “You saw the waters the prostitute sits on,” he said. “They stand for all the nations of the world, no matter what their race or language is. ¹⁶ The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will destroy her and leave her naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. ¹⁷ God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose. So they agreed to give the beast their royal authority. They will give him this authority until God’s words come true. ¹⁸ The woman you saw stands for the great city of Babylon. That city rules over the kings of the earth.”

Weeping When Babylon Falls

18 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority. His glory filled the earth with light. ² With a mighty voice he shouted,

Warning to Run From Babylon’s Judgment

⁴ Then I heard another voice from heaven. It said,

How Terrible When Babylon Falls!

⁹ “The kings of the earth who committed terrible sins with her will weep. They will mourn because they used to share her riches. They will see the smoke rising as she burns. ¹⁰ They will be terrified by her suffering. They will stand far away from her. And they will cry out,

¹¹ “The traders of the world will weep and mourn over her. No one buys what they sell anymore. ¹² Here is what they had for sale.

¹⁴ “The merchants will say, ‘The pleasure you longed for has left you. All your riches and glory have disappeared forever.’ ¹⁵ The traders who sold these things became rich because of Babylon. When she suffers, they will stand far away. Her suffering will terrify them. They will weep and mourn. ¹⁶ They will cry out,

“Every sea captain and all who travel by ship will stand far away. So will the sailors and all who earn their living from the sea. ¹⁸ They will see the smoke rising as Babylon burns. They will ask, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ ¹⁹ They will throw dust on their heads. They will weep and mourn. They will cry out,

Babylon’s Judgment Is Final

²¹ Then a mighty angel picked up a huge rock. It was the size of a large millstone. He threw it into the sea. Then he said,

Three Hallelujahs for the Fall of Babylon!

19 After these things I heard a roar in heaven. It sounded like a huge crowd shouting,

³ Again they shouted,

⁴ The 24 elders and the four living creatures bowed down. They worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They cried out,

⁵ Then a voice came from the throne. It said,

⁶ Then I heard the noise of a huge crowd. It sounded like the roar of rushing waters and like loud thunder. The people were shouting,

Fine linen stands for the right things that God’s holy people do.

⁹ Here is what the angel told me to write. “Blessed are those invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” Then he added, “These are the true words of God.”

¹⁰ When I heard this, I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I serve God, just as you do. I am God’s servant, just like believers who hold firmly to what Jesus has taught. Worship God! The Spirit of prophecy tells the truth about Jesus.”

The Heavenly Warrior Has Victory Over the Beast

¹¹ I saw heaven standing open. There in front of me was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True. When he judges or makes war, he is always fair. ¹² His eyes are like blazing fire. On his head are many crowns. A name is written on him that only he knows. ¹³ He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood. His name is the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses. They were dressed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵ Coming out of the rider’s mouth is a sharp sword. He will strike down the nations with the sword. Scripture says, “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” (Psalm 2:9) He stomps on the grapes of God’s winepress. The winepress stands for the terrible anger of the God who rules over all. ¹⁶ Here is the name that is written on the rider’s robe and on his thigh.

The Greatest King of All and the Most Powerful Lord of All

¹⁷ I saw an angel standing in the sun. He shouted to all the birds flying high in the air, “Come! Gather together for the great supper of God. ¹⁸ Come and eat the dead bodies of kings, generals, and other mighty people. Eat the bodies of horses and their riders. Eat the bodies of all people, free and slave, great and small.”

¹⁹ Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies. They had gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. ²⁰ But the beast and the false prophet were captured. The false prophet had done signs for the beast. In this way the false prophet had tricked some people. Those people had received the mark of the beast and had worshiped its statue. The beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the lake of fire. The lake of fire burns with sulfur. ²¹ The rest were killed by the sword that came out of the rider’s mouth. All the birds stuffed themselves with the dead bodies.